Instead of uniforms, Mumbai cops to get Rs 5,200 as allowance

Aiming to avoid procedural delays in providing uniforms to police, state has planned to discontinue existing tendering process for procurement, supply of uniforms through centralised system

With an aim to avoid procedural delays in providing uniforms to the police, the state has planned to discontinue the existing tendering process for procurement and supply of uniforms through the centralised system.

The finance department has cautioned that the new system would not ensure similarity of uniforms, which may affect the image of the police. File pic for representation

Instead, the government will pay every policeman, from constable to assistant police sub-inspector, R5,200 to procure their own uniform and allied items every year. According to sources in the Mantralaya, the decision to pay Rs 101.39 crore to 1.88 lakh policemen has been taken to avoid delays that come with the process of tendering, procurement, supply and subsequent delivery of cloth and other items to policemen.

Another reasoning given by the department is that it would help relieve the police department from the additional responsibility of providing the uniforms. Every cop in the state is given 56 items, which includes uniform, belt, shoes, a kit wardrobe and other additional components. While the state will pay Rs 5,200 for 25 items, including the uniform, the remaining 31 items shall continue to be provided through the existing centralised system.

While going ahead with this decision, the home department, led by R R Patil, has received a word of warning from the finance department under Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The new system would not ensure similarity of uniforms; cops at mofussil levels may not get the appropriate quality of cloth from their areas, which, the finance department has cautioned, may affect the image of the police.

In addition, there is a possibility that after receiving the amount, policemen may use it for purposes other than buying the uniform. However, the home department has assured that they will provide proper fabric and colour specifications to ensure similarity of uniforms across the state.